Most hated couple of Critic Arley.

The doors to the Statham estate flew open and every eye travelled to the entrance, Theodore started to frown, Lydia was standing at the far end and the urge to run to her, pick her up and disappear was blinding, she was looking so ethereal, better than he had imagined or ever will be able to, the dress flowed softly against her curves, it wasn't too huge but big enough to cover her effortlessly, her pale shoulders were full on display and he was starting to think if it was his mistake for not choosing a design with an arm. Her ocean blue eyes fought for dominance among all the colours on her body, which it won easily because it was the only colour on her that shone, the rest were white and her black long hair, there was no jewellery on her, she stood there for a moment too long, definitely not for his enjoyment but because she was nervous and no one was guiding her to him, he felt his heart clench at that.

He should have worn white too, would she have wanted that? He frowned further and Conan's eyes narrowed, he'd been watching him like a hawk, he had been trying to gauge Theodore's emotion and reaction to this.

He seemed a bit pissed and definitely intending to leave soon.

Lydia raced against nerves to catch breaths the universe was willingly offering into her lungs because it was with haste emptied by the presence of Lord Theodore.

He is a spectacle.

She was knocked out of breath and she knew it the minute she walked out of the house she had been so nervous and lost until she met his eyes, he had always looked refined but today he had gone over the top, he was donning a blue coat that is shades darker than his orbs, with intricate gold and brown designs on them, the undercoat black and sleek, it went up to his upper neck, the coat was not buttoned but had a big blue gem holding it together in the front, right on his chest, his shoulders comfortably, he hadn't trimmed his hair but he didn't put it up altogether either, he let the front down and the back was up in a low bun, a small scruff.

Their guest was only a number two palms could count; her mother who looked so emotional onlookers would believe she cared just as Lydia suddenly believed, Julius who looked so relieved one would think she was marrying the love of her life and then the vicar who is sweating profusely in his white garment, Mira who came to show off what she thinks Theodore missed by picking Lydia, and Shi'enz who for some reason kept trying to be invisible but curiosity and sisterly happiness made her stand but slightly behind her mother, Liza being absent, Mathilda her friend was allowed to dress up and attend as a guest, Conan for Theodore. Hound who seems to focus on something else other than the couple, the employed from the Statham estate peeking from every hidden place possible and that was all.

She got to where the small crowd of family and employed were standing and managed a smile that Mira raised a brow at.

Theodore stretched out his gloved palm that mirrored hers to help her get on the elevated podium he was standing on, waiting for her, she got on and he drew a little too close, his eyes conveying so much warmth she didn't see in the last two times they'd met and hers welled but she blinked them back when he smiled because she became breathless instead.

The vows were a repeat of what the vicar said as none of them had prepared a personal message or vow, the vicar slowly got out of his head and enjoyed the process of the union

"Do you Lady Lydia of house Statham take Lord Theodore of Critic Arley to be your critic wedded husband?" the vicar addressed

"Yes, I do" Lydia stunned herself by not thinking for even a moment before agreeing to this new phase of her life, forever phase.

"Do you lord Theodore of critic Arley take lady Lydia of the house Statham as your critic wedded wife?" the question took three seconds to be cleared.

"Without a doubt, yes" The smile on his lips kept Lydia's eyes focused on them as she smiled back, her nerves clogging her throat

"It is done, yo... You are now husband and... You may now kiss your bride" the words fumbled out as he chastised himself for his slip.

Theodore did not mind, as he was not going to be kissing his bride in front of her little enemies, he would take her home and savour it so he turned to the vicar

"Don't faint here, find your way home" he said to the vicar, he nodded times too much before he turned, scurrying away.

Theodore took the palm of his surprised wife's and interlaced their fingers together, he turned towards a direction that would lead him to a cart and left with her right behind him, there were no pleasantries, no hugs or goodbye kisses, he did it because he knew she wouldn't be getting them and her glassy eyes had begged him to get her out of here, so he did

She was his now and she would be given the universe without saying a word, as he was dragging her into his world he was ready to help her replace her old acquaintance.

"Mothe…" Mira started only to keep shut as her father's outstretched palm raised to indicate her silence was warranted

Lydia didn't glance behind her but kept her head high and shoulders square as she left her past behind, no one in the family would miss her and that's reason enough to enjoy this marriage, Theodore had been a friend by dragging her out of there and she appreciates it

They're now one of Critic-Ishire's noble couple.

The most hated one.

*******

The ride back home was silent and very much appreciated, the curtains were closed but she drew them open slowly and wholly when she noticed her now husband wasn't complaining about it, the scenery was dark but soothing as the clouds looked like they were dropping speck by speck on critic Arley, he had given her his wedding blue coat before they stepped into the carriage as goose bumps burst her skin so now they rest as a big wrap around her smaller frame. A strange sound outside the carriage made her heart skip but Theodore's warm hands held hers firmly and she relaxed, he didn't stop to check what it was. Without knowing her mind travelled to when the vicar had asked Theodore to kiss her but he had simply brushed the request off, kissing was a tradition for marriages she had read about and was sure this city wouldn't just ignore.

Did he not want to seal their vows?

Did she repulse him somehow? Maybe it's her lips that are not beautiful enough? She sighed heavily.

The mansion was more eerie than she gave credit for the last time, she had been blinded by curiosity, naivety and wholesome delight the first time she came but now she forced down the unconscious skeptical thoughts that invaded her brain block.

Passing through the grand wrought iron gate

The mansion itself was a study in dark elegance

Its silhouette was grand against the sky, and gargoyles and intricate stoneworks lent an ethereal air to the mansion.

Her weight was suddenly off the ground and liftiup, she squealed along with a giggle at the surprise but didn't comment, Theodore picked her up into his arms and started to walk towards the entrance of the mansion as tradition, but Lydia kept giggling as he covered the distance with measured steps and to Theodore's notice she was wiggling too.

"Why are you wiggling still?"

"I'm ticklish…" she rasped still unconsciously smiling

"What?" he didn't catch what she'd said

"You fingers gracing my ribs" and he simply smiled at that information because he wasn't going to spoil this tradition because of her quickly amused ribs, he chuckled.

The mansion's double doors swung open as he got close to it, he took them up a small stair, and he got inside with a remnant smile on his face from his last chuckle. He smoothly dropped her on her heels, his palm steadying her on the ground.

"Welcome home gooseberry" he commented, his arms spread out, gesturing for her to take in her new home

"Where are the maids?" her first question came as a surprise to him

"I don't have any" he replied with a small frown, would that be a problem now? He thought. He had never needed them as it was just him and his men for decades now, but now there was a lady in the mansion and they required a lot of hands to become, only he was all she'd ever need.

"What?!"

"if you wanted a grand welcome all you had to do was say it, I'd get all of my employed down here before you could register the courtroom you're standing in" he humoured, making her narrow her eyes at him.

"Introduce yourselves" he called out to the space and seconds later, three men strolled inside colonially

"Welcome home Lady Lydia I'm Zachary" he gave her a smile that made her grimace, he shouldn't force it, she thought "I'm called Hound, you can call me Zachary" Lydia nodded at that, paying her attention to the next one, Conan. Conan snorted as Hound's expression amused him, he was smiling.

He must really like her.

She is the new lady of the mansion, the mansion is about to experience some serious change as the now most hated couple of Critic Arley has been joined.